est stems forming into stronger supporters, are more than three thousand; and from each of these new branches hanging roots are proceeding, which in time will form trunks, and become parents to a future progeny.

"English gentlemen, when on hunting or shooting parties, are accustomed to form extensive encampments, and to spend several weeks under this delightful pavilion of foliage, which is generally filled with green wood-pigeons, doves, peacocks, bulbuls, and a great variety of feathered song. sters, together with monkeys, bats, &c. This tree not only affords shelter but sustenance to all its inhabitants, being loaded with small figs of a rich scarlet colour, on which they regale with great delight."

Having carefully read the accounts given by the travellers, look again at the picture, and then you will perhaps enjoy the description given by Mr. Southey, the poet.

"Twas a fair scene wherein they stood,
A green and sunny glade amid the wood;
And in the midst an aged Banian grew.
It was a goodly sight to see

That venerable tree;

For o'er the lawn, irregularly spread,
Fifty straight columns propt its lofty head;
And many a long depending shoot,

Seeking to strike its root,

Straight like a plummet grew towards the ground:
Some on the lower boughs which crost their way,
Fixing their bearded fibres, round and round,
With many a ring and wild contortion wound;
Some to the passing wind, at times, with sway
Of gentle motion swung ;

Others of younger growth, unmov'd, were hung
Like stone-drops from the cavern's fretted height.
Beneath was smooth and fair to sight,

Nor weeds, nor briers deform'd the natural floor;
And through the leafy cope which bower'd it o'er
Came gleams of chequer'd light.

So like a temple did it seem, that there
A pious heart's first impulse would be prayer."

But when "the winter is past," they no longer need their thick garments, and men take the advantage which the spring-time gives them to cut off the wool with large shears.

The sheep are not injured by this, for the wool grows again on their skins so quickly, that they become quite covered with it before the frost and snow return.

Whenever the period of sheep-shearing arrives, the farmers all over the country make great feasts, and invite their friends and neighbours to meet with them, and partake of their bounty. Many a young heart then beats with delight. These feasts last several days, according to the number of sheep to be shorn.

The farmers generally assist the shearers, and they try which will shear the greatest number of sheep in the shortest time; but in their haste it often happens that they clip the skins of the poor animals, which of course gives them much pain. Yet they rarely make any noise, and when they do, it is but a faint bleat,—“ the sheep before her shearers is dumb."

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The shearing of sheep is a very ancient custom, and has generally been attended with festivity, or merry-making. We read in the Scriptures that "Absalom invited all the king's sons " to his sheepshearing, and when the heart of Amnon, his brother, was merry with wine," he had him put to death. We also read of a man whose possessions were in Carmel, and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats, and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. Now the name of this man was Nabal." He, too, "held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken.” "And it came to pass, about ten days after, that the Lord smote Nabal, that he died."

Sheepshearing is several times spoken of in the Bible, and much is there said about the sheep,which animal is named in it nearly two hundred times. The Jews, when they lived in Canaan, were farmers, and graziers, and shepherds. Their property then consisted chiefly in land, and cattle, and flocks. This is the reason why sheep are so often mentioned in the word of God.

There is one passage of Scripture in which the sheep is referred to, which those who have read it cannot easily forget. The prophet Isaiah, foretelling how Jesus would bear the cruel treatment of his enemies, says, “He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth. He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth."

"The meek lamb of God
From glory came down,
To ransom with blood,
And make us his own.
He patiently suffered,
Our souls to redeem,
Let songs then be offered
To Jesus his name."

THE GREAT EXHIBITION.

THEY who have houses made of glass should be cautious how they throw stones! This is an old proverb. And the boy, or girl, who cannot guess what it means, must be either very dull or very thoughtless. It is intended to teach us, that he who has many faults or defects of his own must not be in a hurry to laugh at or accuse his neighbour; that the youngster with the blotted copybook must not ridicule his schoolfellow with the wrong total on his slate; that the girl who squints a little must not tell her play-mate that her mouth

is too large; that it becomes us all to look to ourselves, and consider how weak, and ignorant, and sinful we are, rather than to watch for the weaknesses and follies of others.

Well, there is a house, a real house, and a very large one too, made of glass. It is lately finished, just opened, and well worth looking at; and we may take it for granted, that those who built it did not intend to fight their neighbours; they must be foolish indeed if they did; they would soon have their house about their ears." They assure us, that they wish to promote "peace on earth and good-will among men."

Many years ago, "when the whole earth was of one language and one speech, the people said one to another, Go to, let us build us a city, and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven,' the Lord stopped the work, by confounding their language, so that they could not understand one another's speech. This was done in order that they might be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth. Now, a place is built in which people of various languages, from different places, may meet together and promote each other's happiness.

For this purpose, a public notice was first given to all nations, wherever railroads, or steam-ships, or sailing vessels could carry it-telling them, that a place would be erected in a few months, in which might be seen the choicest things that the world contains, the riches and rarities found on the surface of the earth, or dug up by the hand of man,the most curious and useful works made by the industrious and skilful in different parts of the globe.

This notice and invitation seemed to say, "Come and join us: don't be behind-hand; we want you, and you want us; you can make some things better than we; we can make other things better than